“These abortionists are feeling the pressure… They feel like they are on the run, and that’s how we want to keep it.” ~ Abby Johnson, Live Action

NARAL Pro-Choice Texas and Progress Texas has released video revealing tactics used by anti-choice groups in that state. The tape was recorded on August 4, 2014 at a training meeting for several anti-abortion groups called the Texas Alliance for Life, entitled “Keeping Abortion Facilities Closed.”

Intimidation tactics, such as stalking, tracking clients and staff, and how to get their personal information, are casually discussed. How to find out who people are, how to track them, and where to go to harass them.

“You track license plates… the license plates coming into any abortion facility… They’re not telling you who they are, they’re not engaged in the conversation. You have license plates, car make, model, description of the person.” ~ Karen Garnett, Catholic Pro-Life Committee of North Texas (CPLC)

All these disturbing tactics, so matter of fact in delivery, show how anti-choice activists plan to intimidate clients. And this is in addition to a large and frightening presence at each and every clinic.

“The number of cancelled appointments, just because they don’t want to drive in because they see our presence there. That’s one impact.” ~ Garnett

It certainly is an impact. With the aid of a recent Supreme Court ruling the buffer zone between protesters and clinics is now completely gone. Now, anti-choice groups can get up in people’s faces if they want to. And they were already intimidating enough to most women.

“The picketers out there, they just scared me half to death.” ~ Davida Johnson went to the convicted abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell when she was too intimidated to enter a safe Planned Parenthood Clinic under protest.

And it isn’t just clients, it is staff who work there. A main goal of the groups is to harass staff into quitting.

“We were able to talk to the abortion center workers, 66 of them quit!” ~ Eileen Romano, 40 Days For Life

And, of course, to shut the clinics down entirely. If that involves stalking and tracking the doctors, so be it.

“In the Fort Worth area, we’ve gone from four abortion mills, to only one… Whole Women’s is the one that is operating. They have two abortionists. We’ve been able to identify one in there… and we’re still searching for the other” ~ Michael Demma, Respect Life, Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth

Abby Jordan talks about tracking where clinics might re-open after they have been closed by using Appraisal District Records. Karen Garnett talks about tracking staff and clients with license plates. Eileen Romano talks about forcing people out of their jobs as “keeping score.”

All of this speaks to the chilling resolve of these groups to their cause. No tactics, no matter how invasive, seem to be off the table. These people will have no problem going to a doctor’s house or violating the sanctity of a church.

God is supposed to have given his people Free Will. America is supposed to guarantee the rights of its citizens to not face harassment on grounds of religious beliefs. Freedom of Religion means that you may worship or not worship freely, NOT to impose your religious beliefs on others.

Mass intimidation tactics cannot be condoned. But they are in Texas, and other parts of America, in the name of God. If you are using your religion to justify harassment and intimidation; to frighten others, and violate their civil and personal rights; you are cheapening yourself, your religion, and your God.

Here is a very good example of how a religiously fanatic fringe group is controlling national conversations. They are using the volume of their opinions to make up for the lack of volume in their numbers. This video shows the unconscionable lengths they will go to keep control.

Chad R. MacDonald has a degree in English Literature from Cape Breton University and subsequently received a full scholarship to AMDA in New York. He is a former security professional, a veteran of the hospitality industry, and experienced in administration and the arts. He loves baseball, hockey, marine photography, science, New York City, and his family. He lives in Hell's Kitchen with his wife and son and their gigantic cat.Chad also writes for spoiledNYC.com, quietmike.org, and contributes at politicalmoll.com. You can follow him on Twitter @ChadMac19 and on Facebook as well!